g g

2 3 4 or 2 3 4
1 or 3 7
7
1 or
3
x x x x
x x
x x
= =
= =
= =
Step 3
Now, because the quantity outside of the absolute value bars was not a positive constant we need to be
careful with the answers we got in the previous step. It is possible that one or both are not in fact
solutions to the original equation. So, we need to verify each of the possible solutions from the previous
step by checking them in the original equation.
( ) ( )
? ?
1: 2 1 3 4 1 5 5 5 5 OK x = = = =
? ?
7 7 7 5 5 5 5
: 2 3 4 OK
3 3 3 3 3 3 3
x
| | | |
= = = =
| |
\ . \ .
Therefore, the two solutions to the original equation are then :
7
3
1 and x x = = .
5. Solve the following equation.
1
4 4 6
2
z z + =
Hint : This problem works the same as all the others in this section do.
Step 1
This problem works identically to all the problems in this section. The only way the two absolute values
can be equal is if the quantities inside them are the same value or the same value except for opposite
signs. Doing this gives,
( )
1 1
4 4 6 6 4 or 4 4 6
2 2
z z z z z + = = + =
In other words, we can use the formula discussed in this section to do this problem!
Step 2
Now solving each these linear equations gives,
1 1
4 6 4 or 4 4 6
2 2
9 7
2 or 10
2 2
4 20
or
9 7
z z z z
z z
z z
+ = + =
= =
= =
2007 Paul Dawkins 124 http://tutorial.math.lamar.edu/terms.aspx